Sunday

Why, when there are too many young men shooting guns all over town, is the city making such a big push for preventing domestic violence that typically happens at home?

It's a question Mayor Tom McNamara has been asked more than a few times by community members. That's what he told 125 people gathered at police headquarters Thursday to learn about a planned Family Justice Center that will be a single place for domestic and sexual violence survivors to go to hook up with legal and social services.

For the answer, one need only consider this statistic: 75 percent of 357 juveniles arrested by the Rockford Police Department for violent offenses in 2016 and 2017 had been documented as a victim or witness in previous domestic-related incidents reported to the department, McNamara said. Police released the data a few months ago.

"If there's no intervention, when they get out of that environment, if they don't get counseling and services they need to overcome that trauma, it snowballs in their life," Lt. Kurt Whisenand told me Friday. "That's why we're pushing the Family Justice Center model."

Winnebago County expects to receive a $450,000 federal grant by October to plan for and set up initial operations for such a center, modeled after those in other cities, including Milwaukee. A center would house representatives of at least 11 law enforcement and social service agencies under one roof.

Domestic violence accounts for a third of violent crimes reported to Rockford police. National crime rankings routinely place Rockford among the most dangerous cities in the country.

"When you look at the scoreboard, it suggests we need to change our game plan ... if a domestic violence survivor has to seek assistance at up to 20 (places) for resources," said Frank Haney, Winnebago County Board chairman, after attending Thursday's meeting. "Not solving this problem is more costly, and not just financially."

The trauma a child experiences in a home where violence is present is something that stays with that child and will manifest in one way or another over time, said Jennifer Cacciapaglia, manager of the Mayor's Office of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention. "Without counseling and wrap-around, long-term support services, that trauma will come out in violent, abusive behavior affecting all areas of our community," she said.

"We also have to recognize how violence in the home affects our children's readiness to succeed in school and the direct correlation to their college and career readiness," she said. "Any notion that domestic violence does not affect every corner of this community and our ability as a community to succeed is simply shortsighted.

Georgette Braun: 815-987-1331; gbraun@rrstar.com; @GeorgetteBraun

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